Clean & Simple Birthday

This was my second card, an easy to mail one, for the Stamping session Chelsey & I had yesterday. While I love layers and dimension, they can be difficult to transport without hand delivering, so I wanted to be sure to add a card that would be simple for sending with Canada Post and this one fit the bill.

Off to Calgary today and I didn't have time to take any more pics of the fun cards Chelsey created, but I'll be back...have a great week!

Stamps: Verve Sweet Scallop Tag, PTI Inside & Out Birthday
Ink: Night of Navy (was supposed to be Baja Breeze - whoops!), Whisper White Craft
Paper: Spring Fling DP, Kraft
Accessories: Button, Rustic Twine, White Floss, Ribbon, Half Pearl

A little Dare for my Mojo

 This week, I used the Mojo Sketch #179 along with Color Dare #98 - Perfect Artichokes to create my card. I kept it pretty simple and used up some of my designer paper that is still needing some love. The sentiment is from Big Wish which contains some of my go t0 birthday sentiments.

This Color Dare was a fun one - I love the purple/green combination and used Sahara Sand and white as my neutral(s). A little bling to the sentiment and along the right side, plus a button for the flower center and I was done!

Yesterday's funeral for MrP's Grandma was a beautiful one and it was a draining day, but I'm happy to say we made it through. MrP's such a good public speaker that his reading went perfectly (as if I had any doubt!). I'm off to Calgary for work this week, but Chelsey and I have a Birthday Card Stamping Bash  today so hopefully I'll have a few more cards to show you while I'm away this week. Thanks for stopping by!

Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop 8

It's time for another TE Blast from the Past Blog Hop! I love the way this always gets me using stamp sets that I haven't used in a while. I had yet to ink up the Care & Comfort set or these flowers from Summer Afternoon.

I was inspired by Sankari's fabulous liquid pearlized creations, so I added to my 'ribbon' strip and used some sheer ribbon for the bow behind the sentiment. True Thyme is one of my fave greens so I was sure to use it on this card for the Green!

The inspiration sketch was just what I needed! Be sure to check out the rest of the awesome creations on the hop. It's always nice to use those stamp sets sitting in the corner, waiting for some love and I really enjoy pulling out my TE stamps for the blog hops!

 

Sisterhood Challenge meets JUGS on Viva la Wednesday

The challenge over at the Sisterhood this week is to use ribbons & brads....and I managed to get both in with the last VLV Sketch of the month, which I'm very excited about finishing a month of challenges! I also used the Just Us Girls Challenge #72 - and used Soft Sky for the Aqua, Cameo Coral for the Melon - and Kraft!

This was such a fun combination of colors and I'm glad I was able to give this sketch a go. It's been a hectic week and it's not slowing down.

Monday was our provincial holiday known as Family Day. MrP lost his Grandma. Worst Family Day ever. The few minutes I had to create this card and tomorrow's TE Blog Hop card were a nice change of pace. I hope to find some more time for crafting soon!

Sparkling Diva Mojo

I wanted to submit for the Get Your Diva On Challenge and used the Mojo Monday 178 sketch, but I'm not sure I like the final product. It's sparkly and has the colors I intended, but maybe it's the way the ink went on the stamps that I'm not in love with?! Either way, my niece, who's a huge fan of sparkle and pink will get this for her birthday in August unless someone else lucks out first (read: has a birthday that I'm unprepared for). LOL!

The inspiration photo for the Get Your Diva on challenge instantly made me think of Maureen and her hot pink perfection every time she puts ink to paper. I wish I'd had some sheer ribbon like that gorgeous napkin wrapping ribbon. Gorgeous! Next trip to Mikeys might have some searching going on.

Oh - and as you can see - I survived my first schooling show in ~13 years!

Our earnings



I took Candid in the 2' Hunter Division and we placed fourth in the Hunt Seat Equitation (which was nice since he was really outstanding for most of it, then wouldn't pick up the right lead going clockwise and made a real performance of it. Had we been in a dressage show to display passage, we just might have won), then fourth in the Hunter Hack over Fences. The third round we may have been in contention for but I screwed up and did a bending line (jumper move) and went over the wrong fence at the second jump, cancelling our ribbon placement. But we won when it counted - first place in the Hunter Stakes class - which got us a beautiful red ribbon and $55 ($5 for every person in the class!) That was long winded and over described, but I was super excited about beating those kids so thanks for indulging me. Hope you're having a wonderful weekend! I'm hoping to get in some more crafting time tonight and tomorrow since we have an extra long weekend with Family Day on Monday.

A whole lot of Challenges

Unlike my friend Andrea, I might just be the worst challenge "Pile It On"-er out there, but I used three challenge to create this card and I was loving every minute of it!

I used the Curtain Call Color Challenge {Act 69} for my paper & ink selections, the Inkspirations Sketch Challenge #57 for the layout and I attempted to do Andrea proud with some participation in the Just Us Girls 71 Challenge - Spotlighting, my first ever attempt at a technique that she has mastered.

Another unloved stamp set got some use (and assembly) when I pulled out my SU! Branch Out set. I sure do love getting some ink to that new rubber and using one of my current favorite colors - cherry cobbler.

I think I might just have to try multiple challenges on one card again - made me feel like I accomplished something! =)  Or maybe that was because of the new stuff used and a new technique attempted. Either way, I've been having a blast!

Hope you're having a wonderful week!

Stamps: Verve Kind Words & Bountiful Backgrounds, SU! Branch Out,

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Early Espresso, Versamark

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake

Accessories: Nestabilities, Half Pearls, Clear Embossing Powder

VLV Big Birthday Wishes

A little Viva La Verve Feb Week 3 challenge?! I was on it! (and I think I was feeling up to the challenge, too!) Teresa had a fabulous sketch and I couldn't wait to try it out with some of my favorite go-to colors for my mom's cards - Elegant Eggplant, Mellow Moss, Kraft and Going Gray. Mostly, I wanted to use this super cute ribbon I bought at Michaels last week and get some more ink on my Bountiful Backgrounds set, which I'm loving clear embossing of late.

I used my Big Wish sentiments for both the little letter and the large sentiment, along with some bling in both the rhinestone and pearl form. I can't believe I'm keeping up with the VLV sketches as I'd hoped - and having a blast - even with Marisa's dreaded skewed panels!

Stamps: Verve Big Wish & Bountiful Backgrounds

Paper: Kraft, Going Grey, Elegant Eggplant, Mellow Moss

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Versamark

Accessories: Ribbon, Button, Twine, Rhinestones, Half Pearls, Dimensionals, Nestabilities, Clear Embossing Powder, Envelope Punch, Script Embossing Folder

Bunnies in Love come Hippity Hopping

A perfect sketch for my cute Bunny Love pair, I used Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 104 to get the creative juices flowing for this fun card. Thanks to AmberInk's iPaper and some easy watercolor pencil coloring on the cute bun buns, this was a pretty simple, yet fun card. (Note to self: watercolor pencils color MUCH better on watercolor paper than regular cardstock) I used some liquid pearls for their cute little tails and along the scalloped circle. This fabulous sentiment is also an AI image (with a cute bonus Bunny in the B!)

Again, I pulled out some ribbon and ruffled the daylights out of it....getting tired of it yet?! I'm sure not!

Super talented Taylor had the idea of passing some virtual love in the form of a V-Day blog hop - plus there's 21 prizes to be had.  Check out the rest of the blogs on the hop you have until Thursday Feb 17 at 6pm EST to comment & get a chance to win the fun prizes!

Taylor Usry

Libby Hickson

Cindy Coutts

Cyndi Bundy 

Amber Hillman

Angelique Nederpel

Tanya Johnson 

Suzi McKenzie 

Cathy Wallington

Pam Hornschu

Wendy Price

Patricia Hays

Maria Levine

Sandie Dunne

Juanita Gillen 

Janelle Stollfus
Mary Collins

Berenice Rendon

Cheryl Gorka

Jessica Fitzgerald

Dee Morris

Darsie Bruno

Sandy Allnock 

Margie Cortina 

Kathy Fronczak

Cat Darling

Joyce Martens (Jolara)

Erin Leveille

Gudrun Loennecken

Mackenzie Bruckler

Melissa (Pink Cat)

Patty Tanuz

Emily Leiphart

Jane Matsumoto

Kimme Leach

Kerry Kung

Heather Lee-Reppen

Rachel Sztonyk

Jennifer Dove

Lysa

Erica Johnson-Wanzer

Tina Kiehn

Sugar Whiting

Karin Martin

Sunghee Chon

Tanis Palmer

Lindsey M-P

Kristi Parker Van Doren

Julie E

Alison Heikkila

Audrey E

Laura Drahozal

Louise Healy

Wendy Jordan

Lynell Harlow

Terrece Siddoway

Make It Monday

Well this card is about as simple as they come and it's exactly what I was looking for to make some birthday cards. I just don't have enough PTI sentiments to really make it work, though...thank goodness I have some on order! Alas, this is my Make It Monday challenge card. Have you got your card in? Deadline is tomorrow - and there's some amazing inspiration over on Nichole's blog.

Stop by tomorrow for a little Valentines loving blog hop I'm participating in =) I had a super night of crafting fun and managed to get almost a week's worth of card goodness to show you as the week progresses. I didn't make it to polocrosse last night thanks to some eye issues and a miserable headache, but it cleared up today for my volunteering and crafting!

Mojo with a Dare

In preparation for seeing a recently engaged friend, I wanted to make a little Congratulations type card so I pulled up this week's Mojo Monday Sketch #177 and the Color Dare 96, which was Bashful Peachy Greens. My only issue was that I didn't have Peach Parfait, so I substitued what I could only guess to be my closest color - the old In Color - Groovy Guava. I couldn't find a button that suited the middle of my flower to make it pop, so black it was. As an added bonus, I was able to ink up some 'as yet unloved' stamps from the Verve Dream Big set, which I love but wish had dies for the flowers & leaves since I'm lazy!

I even tried two backgrounds to see which photographed better....I think I prefer the black background. Which do you think is the better background?

Thursday I was hoping to get around to making this card, but our trip to the local ski hill for a Discover Snowboarding lesson turned out to be far more fun that I'd imagined and we stayed for a few extra runs before they closed. I was on my butt far less than I'd expected from everything I'd been told (and while I would NEVER say that I'm good, I think I held my own for a newbie!) Now I want to get to the mountains so we can actually go down a hill that will take more than 20 seconds.

Polocrosse today and volunteering for the Hypothermic Half tomorrow. Hoping to get in more crafting time since I've been enjoying it so much lately! Take care and enjoy your Saturday =)

Stamps: Verve Dream Big
Ink: Groovy Guava, Garden Green, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Ribbon, Dimensionals, Button, Linen Thread, RhinestonesPaper: Groovy Guava, Garden Green, Bashful Blue (unknown DP), Whisper White

I got some Inkspirations & JUGS!

The challenge at the Sisterhood of Crafters this week is, of course, in celebration of an upcoming day known in our household as the commercial holiday. In other households, it's Valentine's Day. =) That's not to say we don't embrace it a little, but by little, I mean very little. We exchange cards. That's about it. We go out for supper the weekend before or after - but that's nothing special since we usually have a nice supper out once a week. I just can't believe the way that the cost of flowers gets hiked up so badly. I guess I'm just too cheap. LOL
Plus I don't see why there should only be one day when we spoil each other!

Regardless, I did want to participate with my Sisters in this challenge and get my card made for MrP. I found the JUGS70 sketch on Andrea's blog and the Inkspirations Color Challenge #56 from Marisa's blog, so thanks to my friends, I was inspired to create this simple card that gets the message across =)

I inked up my Verve Text Objects and grabbed my Nesties Labels Fourteen, but this card made me realize something that I'm desperately lacking - the heart nesties that Marisa always is rocking. I've since resolved this issue and ordered them up from Peggy, my local 'dealer' who feeds my good for her, bad for me nesties addiction!

The color combination was perfect for a MrP card - not too girly - and I think he'll like it just fine.

Get over to the Sisterhood and show us your Valentines creations!

Also submitting for A Spoon Full of Sugar's Challenge 138 - Let's See Some Love.

Stamps: Verve Text Objects

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze

Accessories: Nestabilities, Dimensionals, Ribbon, Half Pearls

What do you do when wake up way too early on a Friday?

 Check to see if the latest Viva La Verve Challenge is up, of course! For whatever reason, I was awake at 1:30 this morning. I tried going back to sleep but it wasn't happening, so I got up just after 2 and thank goodness Amy had posted the VLV challenge - so I'm already ahead of the game this Friday!


I wanted to make a card for my Grandma that I just visited with last weekend. She always makes me a tray of her fabulous pecan squares (my fave) and the ones she made this time were the best yet - and MrP agreed! I wanted to show her some love and thank her again for my delicious treats, so it was off to find some inspiration. Wasn't tough - I found the Play Date Cafe's Challenge again and PDCC67 was a beauty. The inspiration flower was just gorgeous so I tried using the colors on my own creation.

I know this card may frighten a certain blog buddy with it's skewed panel, but it really is nothing to fret over, M! (I really laughed when I read this on SCS: Be on the lookout for whiterockmama chasing you down since you have an angled panel on this sketch...) Also, inspired by the incredible displays of ribbonry over at her blog of late, I decided to give this ruffled ribbon a try - and it wasn't nearly so scary as I'd imagined. Unfortunately for you, my friends, you may be stuck seeing a lot more of it now! I also love that I was able to use one of my previously uninked sets - Verve's Bountiful Backgrounds. Love it clear embossed!

Despite the ache in the back of my little head, I absolutely love the way this card turned out and I hope you'll join in these two challenges, too....they're way too much fun to miss! If I don't make it back with some more craftiness this weekend, enjoy your days!

Oh - and one last little message - GO PACK GO!

Stamps: Verve Thankful Hearts, Bountiful Backgrounds

Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Elegant Eggplant, Pink Pirouette

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Elegant Eggplant

Accessories: Nestabilities, Dimensionals, Half Pearls, Rhinestones, PTI Luxe Ribbon in Scarlett Jewel